End label attachment



P. G. SCHLEMMER 2,266,087

' END LABEL ATTACHMENT i I Filed April 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 7

lNVENTOR PHIL G. SCHLEM BY j A TORNEY Patented Dec. 16, 1941 t 7 N H1 NT, 1= a lhil'Gi-schlemmer, Nanuet, N. 1., assignorto a an.

v AmericanMachine & Foundrylcompany acor- 'poration otNew Jersey Application'April 2, 193a, sts *1a,m

. I 1501811115 216-2g)" This invention relates its mechanism forapw severedv label [its appropriate end 'of' the w ped p k e. a d! p in -the lab *0 said .end,- preferably corresponding-in essential details with the mechanismior that purposedis-I closed in saidapplication, Serial No. 171,388.

r Other objects and, features of the. invention said applicationhaving been assigned tothe owner of the presentapplication."

In .ursuance of the above general object, it is amore particular objectto provide coordinated instrumentalities by which a continuous supply of labeling material .in strip form is fed under ajbrake and-spring control from a supply roll thereofljand from. which supply strip individual labels are severed and? transferred successively to the ends of the wrapped packages respectively.

Another object is to provide means by which to prevent slippage or the supply'stripand thus to assure proper registration of the conventional or other printed matter with'whicheach label may be" provided, by the formation ofj the printed label-supply strip with marginal indentations occupyin a definite position intermediate the spaced-apart prints, and arranged to be engaged with correspondinglyspaced, raisedf circumferential feedingeieinents oi' a feed wheel. v V a This feed wheel, in further pursuance of the invention, isjdesignedto cooperate with'a pair of co-acting feed-rolls to advance a desired length or the striptoa severing station where a severing device is provided, adapted to operate intenmittently at predetermined intervalsl'and prowill appear as'the description of the particular physical embodiment .ot the for illustration progresses. 4

In the accompanying drawings, of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several view the drawings,in which; 1

invention selected Fig. 1 is a side'view orlabel' feed mechanismin has been-embodied; v Fig, 2 is a fragmentary'view in sideelevation or the label feed mechanism, illustrating vthe the construction of. which the presentainvention driving and clamping means for feeding the label supply strip;

1 Fig.3 is a view in sectionalplan of the parts 'shownlin Figs.- 1 and ,2, the view being takenon the line 3-3 of-Fig. 1, the knife-and some other elements associated therewith having -;been omitted fron Fig, 3;\ Fig. 4 isa partial detail view inplan taken onthe line l4 oi. Fig.1 and serving toIillustrate the'kniie actuating means more clearly; portions of various parts associated with the knives beingalsoshown: .r I

Fig. 5 is an, nd view takenfrom the view point defined byjthe line 5-4 01' Fig. 1, and showing the label guide and clamp finger;

, Fig. 6 isa diagrammatic .plan view the label gripper wheel applying the label to one vision is also made ofa clamping device arranged to be engaged with the strip at suitable'intervals in order to hold the same for each severing operation A further novelprov ision oi the invention in a this connection, includes means bywhicha clamp finger is adapted to engage the label and is biased normally. toward such engagement for holding the label from shifting as the severing means operates, and "is released as thesevering device moves to fulfill its duty of severingthe label from the strip, so that 'the bias'is madeeifective and each label is properly held for the severing operatidn. v

A further object of the invention is to provide for co'-ordinating the above-described mechanisms with a mechanism for transferring each endofthe package;

' Fig- 7 illustrates the forrn of junction with the unit; and Fig.v 8 is a perspective view showing the, label label used in con,

afllxed to one end of the package. V In referring .to the drawings, it should; b 'understood that a labeling'unitoithe type herein" disclosed is provided at eachside or thearticle way 01' the wrapping" machinethe position oi whichis indicated at A Fig.6, and along Which movesuitable pusher devices, ofknown or other suitable form, as indicated by aipalt Of a pusher, designated I83 in Fig. 6, serving asmeans, for advancing the loaves P in the direction oftravel indicated by the arrow. JEach labeling unitwill be, adjacent to an endofi each-orthe. packages successively, in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1 of the previously, mentioned patent application, .It will be also understood that thelabeling units are mounted on adjustable bars to permit in-and-out adjustment to accommodate packlike characters which make up showing by the set-screw 34; v a

ages of different lengths, and that the main driving means of the units are identical with that shown in the heretofore mentioned application for patent.

A driven bevel gear In, Fig. 3, attached to one end of a shaft ll, Figs. 1 and 2, imparts motion to a sprocket l2 driving a chain l3 running over The shafts H and I5 are supported by side frames 2| and 22 which may be suitably attached thereby v 5| supported by bracket 33. The strip W ash is unwound from the reel R is led over a roller 5! and over wheel 35, and in passing over the latter care must be taken that the indented portions 31' of the strip W (Fig. 7) shall register with the raised members 36 of wheel 35, and the strip is then passed under clamp 56' and between the feed rollers 13 and I1. Stripper fingers 63; extending from a holder 64, and attached to bracket 33 (Figs. 1 and 3) engage in the grooves 85-of wheel 35 and tend to direct the strip under the clamp plate 58, and they also prevent the stripfrom clinging to the wheel 35.

to a wrapping machine; as indicated generally ,7

by the reference character C. The shaft I3 is carried by arms 23 and 24 fulcrumed on studs and 28, respectively, supported in extending arms 21 of saidsid'eframes. Arms 23 and 24' are c'onnected'by atie bar 28,and the arm is provided with-a post 25 supporting one end of a tension spring so supportedat its other end by a post 3| carried by the side frame 2|, said spring being" provided to hold the gears l3 and Min mesh. 7

' The hub' of feed roller I I may have the part 33 formed integrally therewith, and contiguous with the part 33 is a separately'formed ring-like part 32, fitted on the shaft l5, as shown in Fig. 3, the part 32 being'pro'vided with an arcuate slot permitting adjustment of the part 32rotatlvely with respect-to the roller'parts 33-". In this manner the raised knurled orfeeding portion K of the roll 32 maybe adjusted with respect to the knurled portion K of the roll 32, thereby to lengthen or to shorten the region of engagement with the label strip W, and thus to regulate the amount of the strip taken up or fed. When the desired relationship of the roll part3) with the roll parts 32-" is obtained, it is fixed inplace The strip registering wheel 35 is provided at its circumference with spaced, raised 36 which are of suitable shape to conform with the shape of indentations 31 formed in the margins of the label strip W,Fig. '1. The wheel, 35 is mounted on a shaft 33 supported at one end in a bracket 39 secured to the side frame 2l, and its other end is supported in a bracket 40 fastened to the side frame 22. A gear 4i, fixed on the shaft 38, is driven by a gear 42 (Fig. 2) mounted on a stud 43 supported in bracket 4!]. Stud 43als0. supports a sprocket 44 driven by means of a chain 45 running over sprocket 46 mounted on the drive shaft ll.

A cam 50 (Figs. 2 audit) attached to shaft l i, actuates a cam roller 5i carried by 'an arm 52 which atits other end is clamped on to a pivot shaft 53 supported by the bracket 40. vAn arm 54 clamned to the other end of shaft 53 supports a rod 55 carrying a clamp plate 56. Cam .50 is set in such relation to the feed roller Il -32 that as the feeding portionof said roller leaves the strip W the clamp plate 55 will descend onto the strip and hold it from displacement during the cutting operation, which will be hereinafter de scribed. A tension spring 51. is provided, tending to hold the cam roller 5! in engagement with cam 50. v

The supply roll oflabeling material R, Fig. 1; is carried by a reel 30 loosely mounted on a shaft V As the strip is advanced by the feed rollers, it

is directed downward by curved portions 65 and 51 of a guide plate 53 and a ledger plate 53, respectively. Plate 63 is attached to an extending arm 10 of a bracket Ii' (Figs. 1 and 5) and the ledger plate 63 is carried by the side frames 2i and 22, Figs. 1 and 4. The leading end of the strip enters into the gap between guide plate I2 and a backing plate 13, Fig. 1, the strip in this position being ready for severance by a knife 14 (Figs. 1 and4)'. v e "1 When the high portion of the rollers 11 32 is about to leave the strip W, the clamp plate 5! descends onto the section o'f-str'ip overlying" the table 15, stopping" its-advance and holding it from displa'cement during the cutting operation. The knife 14, in moving'zito sever a label fromthe strip releases itclamp finger l5, permitting same to engage and hold the label portion of the .est of brevity. I Meanwhile,"the feed ,wheel 35] has continued strip during the cuttingoperatio'n. The strip label'portionbeing thus clamped by theclamp plate 53 andiclamp flnger'llfwhich countervail both the feeding and any tensional effect; the knife completesits duty of severing a label from the strip; the label being-severed across the in dentations as illustrated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 7. The knife now retreats and inapproach+ ing its original position moves theflnger. lifrom its clamping position, allowing the, severed label to drop against an'adjustable plate ll-(Figs. 1 and 5) which provides means for centering the label L vertically on the package P as shown in Fig. 8; Plate Ti may be moved up and down to suit diflerentlabel sizes by,manipulation of an adjusting screw 13 of the type shown in the here tofore mentioned patent application.

The label is withdrawn from its compartment byla revolving gripper wheel (Fig. 6) provided one end of the label L,'shown m dotted lines, and

carry it pasta revolving drum 3! which applies a coating of adhesive to the label, which is backed by the circular portion 33 of wheel". 'As the gripper wheelisgpreferably or the identical construction disclosed in the previously mentioned patent application, a more detailed showing and description is deemed unnecessary, in the interfeeding the strip W, thereby forming a loopbetween the clamp plate and the-wheel. At the time the clamp .plate 53 is lifted from the strip, the leading high portion 33.01 rollers l |32 engages the stripv and'with the aid of roller l3 advances the slack portion of the strip. Inasmuch as the rollers .travel faster than wheel 35,

the adjustable rollers l I-Ilare .set in respect to'the member 35, so that asthe strip is pulled taut, the raised portion of the roll is about to leave the strip. at 'whichinstant the plate 55 descends uponthe strip and clamps the forward section thereof. The plate 53- thus actsfto are opened, and the remaining portion of the label is rolled onto the end of the package, the con-' tinued advancement of the package bringing it' into contact with suitable heated members as at I84, which fuse the folded wrapper ends about the package. By heating the wrapper the adhesive applied to the label L is caused to penetrate the softened wax coating of the wrapper and adhere to the underlying paper. The fin ished package P has the appearance shown in Fig. 8.

The knife I is actuated by the cam surface 85, whichis provided at the end of roller I6 (Fig. 4) and the latter engages a cam roller 06 carried by a stud 81 (Fig. 2) fastened to an extending arm 88 of the knife. A spring 89 spanned" between a stud 81, and a, spring post 90, Fig. 4,

tends normally to hold the knife I4 in the position seen in Fig. 4. r The knife is held in engagement with its ledger 69 by a compression spring 0| lodgedin a block 92, secured to frame 22.

The clamp finger I6 (Figs. 1-, 4* and 5) is guided in a hub 95 of bracket II and at its upper end carries anxed arm 96 engaging the edge of knife I0. A spring 91 is provided to hold said members in engagement. As the knife moves to perform its cutting action, thespringiil swings arm 96. permitting the end of finger Iiito en age the label.

In pursuance of a stated object of the invention, a let-oil mechanism for the strip is provided which-includes a braking arrangement'to overcome overrunning of the strip W when unwoundirom roll R, Fig. 1. The arm I 00 which carries the guide roller 62 is fulcrumed on a stud reel should deliver too much material, the .arm

I00 will move away from wheel and gently tighten the strap I0l..abeut the hub I05 and retard the turning of reel I50. The movement of arm I00 is controlledby a tension spring I08 fastened at one end to stud I06 and having its other end attached to a screw I09 at the upper end of arm I00. Screw I09 provides means for adjusting the tension of spring I08, and consequently the braking, action of members I04--I 05.

A receptacle as at I82, in which the adhesive is stored, has a bearing supporting a vertical shaft IIO (Fig. 6) which carries the adhesive drum 82, and the shaft I I0 is provided at its lower end with a bevel gear I II in mesh with a bevel gear II2 mounted on a horizontal cross shaft II3. Shaft I I3 is continuously driven by suitable means. from a motor (not shown) of the machine, and therefore drum 02 will continue to retate even when the main clutch of the machine is disengaged, stopping the'machine for the purpose of replenishing the wrapped material or to make necessary adjustments to accommodate different sizes of packages.

.In: thepreviously mentioned patent application, the drum which supplies the adhesive to v the label is driven by means connected to the main clutch, and therefore when the clutch is disengaged said drumwili'stcp and the adhesive on the portion of the drum not incontact with the adhesive in the receptacle, will become hard or tacky, necessitating cleaning of the drum after practically every stoppage of the machine.'

By the lpresent arrangements this hindrance is overcome. resulting in an increase of production.

Between each folder plate 80 and the heater I80 on the same side of the articl'eway, where the gripper wheel 80 is arranged to, apply the adhesive-coatedllabel to the end of the leaf as already described, provision is preferablymade of a stripper member having stripperflngers 00 which pass behind the label L as it .is'carried around on the periphery 83 of the gripper wheel .80. ThewheelpreferabIy is grooved-circumferentially to receive "the ends of the stripper fingers 00 as indicated by a dotted line. The fingers 00' are preferably heated to facilitate the stripping action, and for. this purpose a heater 00 is pro-. vided.- Whatisclaimedis: l .1., Mechanism for aflixing labels to' the ends of each of a seriesof wrapped loaves of bread; said.- mechanism comprising an articieway; means to advance said wrapped loaves along the articleway in sidefby side disposition with the leaf ends exposed-for attachment thereto of said labels; a

support for a supply-roll of label strip material having opposed semi-circular marginal indentations of the same size; a 'strip-fecddevice ineluding opposed peripheral feeding elementsfor entering said indentations at each edge of said strip andifor feeding the same at a predetermined linear speed tea severing station; a label-'- f applying station in a path intersecting said arg Y ticleway means at said severing station to seversaid strip at intervals substantially at. the mld-v point of each indentation. to form labels therefrom; means to feed said labels from said sever ing meanspast said label-applying station; and means to attach. a label in I adhesive contact against each end of said articlesindividually as they pass saidiabel-applying station.

2, Thecombination with m ans for continuously advancing wrapped loaves at constant speed,- of means for severing label parts from a stock strip, mechanism for rendering said labelforming parts adhesive, mechanism for rolling said labelparts against the ends of ;.the' advancing packages with their adhesive coatedfacesin contact therewith, and heaters arranged. to en gagethe labeled package ends. H

3. A label applying mechanism comprising a support for a supply roll of label-strip, meansfto sever labels therefrom seriatim, mechanism to advance articles, to 'a label-applying station, means to deliver each label tea compartment, means to grip each label in turn and transferit from ,said compartment to the article to be labelled, at said label-applying station, and

. means to cause adherence of said labels respec-- with heat.

tively, each to the end of an article to be labelled,

by the application thereto of a rolling pressure 4. A label applying mechanism comprising a device for parting labels successively from a supply strip of label material and moving the labels seriatim edgewise in one direction intoan-upright position, mechanism to present a package at a labeling station, means for gripping an upright edge of a label and moving the label edgewise in another direction to carry said edge into engagement with the end of a package at said station, means to render said label adhesive in the course of said transfer, and means to cause said label to adhere smoothly and completely against said package end.

5."In a labeling mechanism, means for advancing wrapped loaves past a label applying station, devices for applying labels at said station to the ends of an advancing series of said wrapped loaves, said devices including heaters arranged to engage and heat-seal the labels to the ends of the packages, and members for holding the labels on the package ends until they contact said heaters, means for supporting a supply strip of label stock, means to part labels from said strip, means to advance said labels individually into the range of action of said labelapplying devices and means for simultaneously adjusting said devices, heaters and strip-feed and severing means to accommodate loaves of various lengths with said labels properly centered.

6. In a labeling mechanism comprising a labelstrip-feed, means to sever labels therefrom, and means to tension the leading end of said strip preliminary to severance, mechanism including a pocket means to hold the severed end of said strip against said tension, and a means to hold each label part in upright position subject to transfer to a labeling station, said pocket means being constructed and arranged to permit introduction of the severed label edgewise thereto'ir i an upright plane and its removal edgewise therefrom in said upright plane in another direction.

7. In a labeling mechanismcomprising a labelstrip-feed, means to tension said strip, means to sever the tensioned strip into labels, and means to countervail said tension and feeding at severance, substantially as described.

8. A labeling attachment of the class described, comprising a' support for a strip-supply roll, a let-off mechanism on said support, including means for tensioning the strip and a primary feed roll also on said support and having feeding elements adapted to engage the margins of said strip to draw it oflpositively'against'said tension'and to advance the strip positively, a compartment on said support to receive the leading end of the strip when so advanced, means to 10. In a labeling mechanism, the combination with a pocket having upright front and back portions arranged to provide a label receiving space which'is relatively shallow from front to rear to hold the label in an upright plane, said pocket being open at its upper edge and along o'neslde edge to. permit the introduction of labels int-a the pocket from above and the removal of labels in said pocket from the side for application to an article, a support for a supply of labels in continuous strip form, means to feed labels from said supply into said pocket, and mechanism for severing said labels from said strip."

11. The mechanism set forth in claim 10 wherein said label feeding means is arranged to de-' liver the label at the forward end of the continuous strip into said pocket, said severing mechanism being timed relative to said feed to sever the label after delivery of the same into said pocket.

, 12; In a labeling mechanism, the combination ber adjacent said way having separate label receiving and delivering openings, means providing a source of supply of printed labelsin continuous strip form, a label cutter, mechanism cooperating with said cutter for feeding said strip transversely sever the strip at a region intermediate said feed roll and compartment, leaving the severed end as a label in said compartment, and clamping devices adapted respectively to'hold the label forming end, and to hold the strip part anteriorto the region of severance, during the severing operation. i

9. A strip feeding and severing mechanism for labeling machines and the like, saidmechanism comprising a primary feed roll having feeding elements adapted to be engaged with marginal indentations of a supply strip to control the advancement thereof, a severing device, a secondary feed roll couple, the rolls of which are carried by parallel shafts, with intermeshing gears, one of said shafts and its roll and gear being supported floatingly, and said last-named roll having a radial enlargement adapted to be revolved intermittently into engagement with the leading portion of said strip to advance a predetermined label-size length of said end to said severing means.

of the direction of movement of the articles along said way, past said cutter through said receiving opening and into said chamber'to provide a succession of cut labels in said chamber, and label applying-means operating to remove each cut label edgewise through said deliveryopening in a direction at an angle to'that in which the label was delivered to the chamber and to apply the same to an article forwarded along said way.

13. The mechanism set forth in claim 12 having devices cooperating with said chamber to vary the position of'the labels in said chamber so as to adjust the position of the label when applied to said articles.

l4. Mechanism for 9.111 labels to loaves provided with wrappers having a thermoplastic cone said pocket and to feed it to the path transversed by a wrapped loaf end; and means to heat'seal said adhes ve label-strip parts to "said'thermoplastic wrapper parts.

, 15. The combination withdevices for parting coated labels from a continuous supply strip, I

means to advance packages to a label-applying station, means to advance said labels from said PHIL G. SCI-ILEMMERQ 

